The Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), one of the world’s top professional T20 cricket competitions, has made a landmark expansion announcement on March 31, 2026, formally welcoming the Jamaica Kingsmen as its newest franchise. This official confirmation opens an exciting new chapter for cricket development across the Caribbean region.
The newly launched Jamaica Kingsmen will carry Jamaica’s sporting legacy into the CPL, bringing a distinct new identity, renewed competitive energy, and a firm commitment to upholding high standards of excellence both on the cricket pitch and in community engagement off the field. The addition of the franchise advances the CPL’s long-standing core mission: growing the popularity of cricket across every Caribbean territory while centering the unique cultural identity and fan passion that makes each island’s cricket community special.
Unlike any previous expansion addition to the league, the Jamaica Kingsmen is owned by a United States-based investment group headed by Fawad Sarwar, an industry leader who already owns a Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise bearing the same Kingsmen name. This cross-league ownership structure represents a meaningful milestone in forging stronger collaborative connections between major global cricket circuits and extending the recognition of the Kingsmen brand across elite T20 competitions worldwide.
Pete Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Republic Bank CPL, shared his enthusiasm for the new addition in an official statement. “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome the Jamaica Kingsmen into the CPL family,” Russell said. “Jamaica has long been a dominant powerhouse in Caribbean cricket, and this new franchise is a bold, forward-looking step that builds on that incredible existing legacy. The participation of an experienced, well-respected international ownership group only underscores the rising global appeal of the CPL as a premier T20 destination.”
Sarwar, the lead owner of the new franchise, also shared his perspective on the expansion, noting that bringing the Kingsmen brand to the Caribbean is a distinct honor. “Jamaica boasts one of the richest cricketing heritages in the world, and it is home to some of the most passionate cricket fans on the planet,” Sarwar said. “We are fully committed to building a squad that honors that pride, competes at the highest possible level of the sport, and contributes to the ongoing growth of the CPL. We are excited to build something truly special for the people of Jamaica, rooted in the iconic Tallawah fighting spirit that defines Jamaican sport.”
The “Kingsmen” franchise name was chosen intentionally to evoke three core values that align with Jamaican cricket: strength, pride, and leadership. These qualities have long been associated with Jamaica’s outsized impact on regional and international cricket, from producing generations of star players to shaping the culture of the sport across the Caribbean.
The franchise will have its permanent base in Kingston, Jamaica’s capital, with the iconic Sabina Park serving as its official home ground. Sabina Park is one of the most legendary cricket venues in the Caribbean, with a decades-long history of hosting high-stakes international and regional matches, and it will now offer fans a dynamic, electrifying matchday experience for every Kingsmen home game.
For the CPL, the addition of the Jamaica Kingsmen reinforces the league’s trajectory as one of the fastest-growing premier T20 competitions on the global cricket calendar. League organizers note that this expansion marks the start of an exciting new era for cricket, both in Jamaica and across the entire Caribbean region, as the league works to bring top-tier T20 action to more fans and grow the sport’s reach across the globe.